Donald Sterling Banned for Life from NBA, Fined $2.5 Million

Donald Sterling has been banned for life from any NBA games and been fined $2.5 million — the maximum amount allowed under the NBA Constitution — after an audio tape leaked of the Los Angeles Clippers owner allegedly making racist comments, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said today at a press conference.

Silver added that he was encouraging the NBA board of governors to force a sale of the Clippers and that he will “do everything in my power to make sure that happens.”

“The views expressed by Mr. Sterling and deeply offensive and harmful,” Silver said at the conference. “That they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage. Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the basis our diverse, multicultural and multiethnic league.”

He added that he had the support of others in the organization, saying: “We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling’s views. They simply have no place in the NBA.”

The controversy over Sterling started Friday when TMZ released a taped conversation said to be between Sterling and his girlfriend V. Stiviano in which Sterling asks Stiviano not to publicize her friendship with African-Americans.

“It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people,” a man identified as Sterling says on the tape in reaction to Stiviano posting a photo on Instagram with Lakers legend Magic Johnson. “You can sleep with (black people). You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it … and not to bring them to my games.”

My take on this whole thing: Someone obviously got Sterling’s girlfriend to tape his comments. She showed him a photo of herself taken with Michael Jordan. He was probably responding out of jealousy. The person who put her up to this probably wants to buy the Clippers, and, with Sterling out of the way, he/she will have an easier time. Rumors are circulating that it is probably either Magic or Oprah.

Racism is still exist in America. It just went underground. This recent episode proves it. A certain portion of white America can’t accept the fact that they have a black president. So, who the hell cares? This owner will get a big amount of cash from his initial investment of $12 million. Watch his middle finger sent on Instagram.

Sounds like really serious overkill! this NBA official seemed extremely raged when he heard the remarks,
but i still question the wisdom of the NBA in banning this man,because it sounds like a set-up! sounds like
someone waited for the right moment to entrap the man,so it would put egg on his face! if the man in the
center of this scandal is an idiot,then that’s his problem-but being the owner of a Basketball team,i’m sure
that he could still have a chance of challenging this ban,if he wanted to! either way,the racial stuff didn’t
help him-but what if these were comments made about Gays,,how much wrath would he have endured,if
his remarks were aimed at LGBTs-because many of these people are trying to do the very same thing,
that Sterling’s racial remarks triggered-off! i mean really,,if Sterling was a Neo Nazi or a KKK member,that
might be understandable,,but it still sounds like the man got pissed by the players in a game-and people in
his line of work are known for their behavior,especially if the team they own,isn’t doing so great a job,out
in the court,,who hasn’t fired off obscene or racial remarks in this business? sounds like this NBA official
flexed some serious PC here,or wanted to find the perfect example to make! that’s why this sounds like
overkill! i’m not defending his racial remarks at all,,but i’m still questioning the heavy handed fine-does he
have to sell off the team to another owner now? that’s why this still sounds too fishy!

Despite the canning Sterling received one ought to be concerned about him being forced to sell the team given the fact that he had made his remarks in private and were of a personal nature and did not portend to any active policy towards running or managing the team he owns.

In essence for better or worse, Donald Sterling was simply voicing his thoughts, opinions, no matter how vile or insensitive they may be, something that one oughtn’t be segregated for in a nation where one can express what they please. Then again this is an industry where there is too much money at stake, sponsorship deals to make and principles will be thrown out the door to make sure that ‘good will remains,’ never mind the fact that for many years Sterling’s actions and attitude were complicity endorsed by the fellow owners and the NBA itself.

All of us has at one time or anther cussed some one of another race…including people of their own races…..but….once you are a public figure….YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY..IT COULD TUMBLE YOUR EMPIRE…LIKES ITS DOING TO D. STERLING…He was apparently threaten by the prowess of the black man his Black.and Mexican date was exposing…. he did not know she was mixed? What makes it worse NBA is 80% black players….and he has been reported to have been exposing his racist remarks for the past 20 years…the Rooster has come home to be roasted!
America.is bi-polar…we love black people at night and hate them during the day! We need mental help…. America….needs to learn one day..the powers that be must pass the power to the people of color in 50-100 years from now…for America to survive…teach the the young for they are our future.

SHE SET HIM UP!!!! LOL DUH!!! MAN COME ON PPL… WHEN YOU GROW UP AND LOOK PAST COLOR YOU CAN SEE GOOD AND EVIL.SHE TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET PAID… POOR OLD WHITE MAN.PLUS I THINK HE WAS TIRED OF HIS WEALTHY WHITE FRIENDS CRACKING JOKES THAT HIS GIRL TAKING PICS WITH NEGROS AND SPENDING HIS MONEY. LOL GET REAAAAAAAL PEOPLE… HIS MANHOOD WAS STOLEN.I SHALL PRAY FOR THEM BOTH.

Look the guy was stupid in saying what he said “privately.” There’s a backstory here to his prejudice. The old fart sugar-daddy was set up by a gold-digger he was trying to bed-down and control – he was simply jealous when she put it to him – his manhood bruised. Sure he’s rich and powerful, but he’s really wrinkled too and probably can’t get it up so good no more – now it becomes a “man” thing. She baited him – she entrapped him – hit bit. 1 to zip – gold-digger. He would have said anything to nail her back – even stupid prejudices. That trash talk drew a foul – a big foul call.

Now, if they would just do the same sort of public shaming for those in the sports world who use the “N-word” when referencing themselves or others, on or off the field, America might be able to move past this sort of ignorance. All in favor, please express your support to team owners and NBA, NFL, etc. sports teams and owners.

Um, don’t recall anyone using the N word. And no, all black people DON’T think it’s okay to use it. Where you’re coming from, where he’s coming from? THAT’S the problem. THIS is the solution. You don’t like having to think about your words and attitudes? TOO BAD. That day is dead.

What happened to “freedom of speech”? I don’t agree with his statements (I haven’t heard them, actually), but no matter what he said, he has a right to say whatever he wants. At least we used to have rights in the US. This is probably just the team trying to get people talking abiut them.

I’m a business owner and I am also very politically active (and opinionated) but I never use my business as a platform to express my opinions or politics. I know I have every legal right to do so but I’m smart enough to know that my opinions will alienate and possibly cause at least 50% of my clients to take their business elsewhere. With freedoms come responsibilities.

Sterling’s comments don’t even apply to this logic though – he simply needs to go away.

The problem is that he’s a public figure, not that he said the comments. Yes, he has the right to believe and say what he pleases, in public or private. However, once you become a public figure and your words and actions become public and in a way, a representation of those you work with. It comes with the territory.

My question is, “How many of us, of any race, could stand the test of having all our conversations taped and shared with the world?” I, in no way, would defend Sterling’s views or remarks, but I have been apprised of racially offensive remarks directed toward me and others from African-Americans, and I’m certain in times of frustration and moral weakness I and my friends have uttered racially offensive language. But living in a world where I’m on trial every time I pick up the phone, or have social get-together with friends … as I said, who can stand that test?

You gotta wonder about the trolls who soon their time taking sites to task for a misspelled word. Obviously, the trolls have never made a typo! No matter the site, posts are often written very quickly on breaking news. They then correct the typos.